Alexis Torres arraigned; pleads not guilty to second-degree murder

Rensselaer County Public Defender John Turi, right, addresses the court while Sharon Dubuc, a court-appointed interpreter explains the proceedings to murder suspect Alexis Torres during his arraignment on murder charges in the stabbing death of Amber Fernald, in Rensselaer County Court in Troy, N.Y. on Tuesday, June 17, 2014.
J.S. CARRAS - THE RECORD

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TROY >> Alexis Torres pleaded not guilty to the six charges lodged against him during his arraignment on Tuesday, with the top count carrying a charge of 25 years to life in prison.

With 13 court officers blanketing the area behind him, Torres, 28, appeared before Judge Andrew Ceresia in Rensselaer County Court to face the charges brought against him, including a second-degree murder charge.

Troy Police arrested Torres last Friday following the fatal stabbing of 33-year-old Amber Fernald during the early morning hours of June 10. While Torres was originally set to be arraigned last Friday, his defense team requested that the proceedings be halted so that he could have an interpreter.

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Along with Rensselaer County Public Defender John Turi, who will serve as Torres’ defense attorney, state Office of Court Administration interpreter Sharon Dubuc also accompanied him to court Tuesday.

Torres also faces a charge for violating his probation, which stems from a previous felony: a second-degree attempted burglary conviction.

Rensselaer County Assistant District Attorneys Carmelo Laquidara and Shane Hug requested three orders of protection against Torres for Fernald’s three children, ages 5, 12, and 13 years old, who were in the apartment on Sixth Avenue at the time of the incident.

Fernald also had an order of protection against Torres when the incident occurred on June 10.

Laquidara said because of the incident, they didn’t want the defendant to have any contact with the children.

“Anytime children are involved it makes it more troubling,” Laquidara said. “It’s something we will take into consideration when handling the care.”

Laquidara declined to discuss the nature of the relationship between Torres and Fernald.

Police arrived at 93 Sixth Ave. at approximately 3:45 a.m. on June 10 to find Fernald dead and Torres in critical condition. While Torres was transported to Albany Medical Center for treatment, he was soon found to be well enough to be remanded to Rensselaer County Jail.

Troy Police have not provided any details about Torres’ injuries.

Torres is scheduled to appear in court on July 30 for a conference pertaining to the probation violation. Ceresia also gave attorneys 45 days to file motions.

Turi indicated he will be filing an application for a bond hearing for Torres.